A little honest insight about the World Series champion San Francisco Giants (2010, 2012, 2014) from a blog that ranked in the Top 100 of MLB.com Fan Blogs of 2012-14

Giants 6, Rockies 5: Madison Bumgarner makes history with grand slam

San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner hits a grand slam off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Jorge De La Rosa during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 11, 2014, in San Francisco. At left is Colorado Rockies catcher Jordan Pacheco. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)

Giants manager Bruce Bochy was looking for a good opportunity to give Buster Posey and Angel Pagan a rest.

With Madison Bumgarner on the mound, Bochy figured the Giants could still win without their two hottest hitters.

And that’s how it worked out, although not in the manner that Bochy was probably thinking.

Bumgarner drove in five runs, including four on a fourth-inning grand slam as the Giants beat the Rockies in the first Orange Friday of the season.

When Bumgarner took Jorge De La Rosa deep to right for his third career home run, Bumgarner became the second San Francisco Giants pitcher to hit a grand slam, joining Shawn Estes who did it May 24, 2000 against the Montreal Expos.

In winning, the Giants erased an early 3-0 deficit. The Rockies dinked and dunked Bumgarner, except for the rocket Carlos Gonzalez hit into the bay in the top of the third for a two-run home run.

Brandon Crawford opened the bottom of the third with a triple and scored when Bumgarner hit a sacrifice fly to deep left field.

In the bottom of the fourth, things got odd.

Pablo Sandoval opened the inning with a single, followed by a Michael Morse walk. Hector Sanchez flied out, and Brandon Belt struck out.

The Giants looked like they caught a bad break when Brandon Hicks was hit on the foot with a pitch that appeared destined to the backstop, which would have allowed Sandoval to score from third. Instead, the bases were loaded.

But the Giants got that run when Brandon Crawford walked.

Then came Bumgarner, who jumped on a De La Rosa fast ball and drove it deep into the left-field bleachers for a grand slam and a 6-3 lead.

The Giants wasted scoring chances later in the game, but Sergio Romo struck out the side in the ninth to seal the win.

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WOEFUL BENCH

In addition to giving Pagan and Posey a rest, Bochy was also looking to get some of his bench players some at-bats to get them out of their early season funk.

Juan Perez started in center and went 0 for 4. Hector Sanchez started at catcher and went 0 for 3 and was hit by a pitch. Add in Ehire Adrianza’s out in a pinch-hit spot (oddly pinch-hitting for Bumgarner), and the Giants usual bench players of Perez, Sanchez, Adrianza, Gregor Blanco and Joaquin Arias are hitting a combined 5 for 59 (.085).

Perez did have a nice throw to double off Jordan Pacheco at first to end the eighth.

SANDOVAL TO BENCH LATE

As he did Thursday night, Pablo Sandoval threw the ball away on a play when he was better off to just hold the ball.

Nolan Arenado bunted to third with Sandoval playing back. Sandoval charged the ball, and did not have a chance to get Arenado. But he threw anyway, and the throw went into the stands.

That allowed Arenado to take second, which allowed him to score on Charlie Blackmon’s bloop single.

In the top of the ninth, Sandoval was sent to the bench in favor of Joaquin Arias.

That’s not supposed to happen for a player who wants a $90 million contract. Especially one hitting .143.

MORE TWO-OUT MAGIC

Five of the six runs the Giants scored on Friday came with two outs. That makes 41 of 61 runs this season coming with two outs.

SATURDAY

Matt Cain, who has enjoyed success against the Rockies, takes the mound against the former A’s pitcher Brett Anderson. Anderson is 0-2 this season, but he’s had two quality starts (both exactly 6 IP with 3 ERs for a 4.50 ERA). But that’s two more quality starts than what Cain has enjoyed this season. Game time is 1:05 p.m. and the game will be aired on MLB Network.

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